As we have said before, the advice is to everyone is STAY AT HOME. However, it is obvious that potentially vulnerable people are still going out (eg over 70s).

If you are older, or have health conditions, please consider using our team of volunteers for your tasks.

Contact your Road Rep for help if you need it

Use a delivery system for food, if possible - neighbours with delivery slots could help with this - but avoid any contact. Keep an eye out on Downe Mailing or Downe village Facebook or Downe website for local companies that will deliver to your doorstep (no contact) or contact your Road Rep

If you have no way of obtaining essential medicines, let your Road Rep know

Use 111 for non-urgent medical issues, as first port of call (if you still have medical issues then email Downe Mailing, though we are not medically qualified)

Also – an eight stage sanitary process you may wish to use after receiving shopping (from a local expert)

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Have two separate work surfaces one designated “clean” / one “dirty” (maybe put tape down the middle to make it easier)

The Church continues to be alive and active, but our buildings must close in the London area

London is seeing a huge increase in the number of people falling sick with COVID-19. We must distance ourselves from one another and prevent the spread of infection in order to save lives.

Therefore, as well as public worship being suspended, this and all church buildings in the Diocese of Rochester, Southwark, Chelmsford and London are now closed.

Our worship of God and our care for each other continue but cannot be done in this building.

Our website contains details of how to join others online for prayer, worship, study, and community life. See: www.pcd.org.uk for online resources or email office@pcd.org.uk to be sent our weekly updates.

Rev John Musson, the vicar of St Mary’s Downe and Cudham Church can be contacted in an emergency by telephoning 07504 827929 or by emailing vicar@pcd.org.uk

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength . . . Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

To protect the vulnerable amongst us, please do not leave your home except for essential trips.

Rev John Musson, Vicar of Cudham and Downe, Area Dean of Orpington

Coronavirus - being extra careful and keeping safe

Apparently in some areas Neighbourhood Watch teams are reporting attempted burglaries, “bogus callers”, using the Coronavirus situation to gain entry to people’s homes.

People have been knocking on doors of mainly elderly residents, stating that they are from the Dept of Health, and explaining that they are taking people’s temperatures to help tackle the spread of the virus. If someone calls at their home, they should refuse entry and call police using 999.

There is no scheme currently being operated to take temperatures of the general public.

There is no ‘cold calling’ being carried out by health officials in relation to tackling the virus.

Please bring this to the attention of your families and neighbours particularly the old and vulnerable. Our “road reps” scheme is designed to assure you about genuine helpers

Downe Mailing will continue to carry important local messages.

Pub events in Downe during Coronavirus crisis

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The Queen’s Head

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During lockdown the Queens Head has been offering takeaway / delivery food and drink six days per week, Monday through Saturday, noon to 3pm, and 5pm to 8pm.

The food menu is below but changes weekly and is available on our website (queensheaddowne.com) or via our social media, orders can be placed and paid for over the telephone on 01689 852145.

Draught Cask Ale and Lagers, wines, bottled beers and soft drinks are available to collect; you must bring your own containers for draught (old milk bottles, wine bottles and even Tupperware have been used). Since Lockdown we have had a wide variety of Ales from all around Kent, priced at £3 per pint. Currently we have Bexley Brewery’s Anchor Bay IPA, 4.8%, but at the weekend we are increasing the offer to Two Ales, St Austell Tribute Pale Ale (4.2%) and fresh out of the Westerham Brewery, Summer Perle (3.8%).

Currently we have three Lagers available, Fosters at £3.50 per pint, Kronenbourg 1664 at £4 per pint and Estrella at £4.50 per pint. We can also supply the branded Glassware to help you enjoy these at home.

We also operate a Fruit / Vegetable stall and shop from the porch of the Queens Head on a Friday and Saturday afternoon from 12 noon to 3pm. We have been able to provide an array of Fruit, Salad and Vegetables as well as essentials like Milk, Bread, Eggs, Meat, Cheese, Flour, Yeast, Sugar, Tea, Coffee, Toilet and kitchen Rolls. In recent weeks we have also added some homemade cakes pastries for sale and this week have potted geraniums at £2 each or 3 for £5.

We also offer this as a delivery service, where orders placed by the Wednesday evening (either over the phone or by email) are boxed up and collected or delivered to customers on Friday morning.

London Wildlife Trust run practical volunteer sessions on the nature reserve within West Kent Golf Course as part of the Trust's Brilliant Butterflies project. The Trust, the Natural History Museum and Butterfly Conservation are working together creating and restoring chalk grassland to come alive with butterflies and wildflowers in South Croydon and Bromley

More on the village lime tree - following on from the article below, many thanks to Dave Evans who uncovered this photo of (village resident) Eric Lubbock and his wife from the Daily Telegraph - Friday March 16th 1962, and another from the Kentish Times showing Eric celebrating his Orpington victory for the Liberal party - a 7,855 majority over the Conservatives.

The old Lime tree

For as long as villagers can remember it has been said that the Old Lime tree has been dying, starved of water

as it is totally encased in tarmac. Probably over 100 years old - it can be seen in all the old photos of the village and

in the past the Council have removed branches in the hope of reducing its water needs.

The Residents' Association has now installed three one metre deep irrigatation pipes around the tree and can we urge those living close by, when they have a watering can at hand, to pour fresh water through the grills. Water from the road could not have been utilized as during the winter it would be polluted with salt.

Many of you will remember Terry Williams who lived in the village but who sadly died four years ago. Well known

in the entertainment world, perhaps you will recall him on tall stilts ? He recorded the song called 'Dancing around the Old Lime tree' which we hope will be possible for many more years to come !

You can hear it again (with some associated pictures) by clicking here:

Philip Shaye Productions - a Downe village-based business have produced a video for Paul Gubby at Christmas Tree Farm, and a promotional video of the Queen's Head jam night. Click on the buttons above to view

If any of you would like to promote your business using video, contact Phil Louden-Carter on 07834 042918 or plc.philipshaye@gmail.com

Read the latest update (as of end 2019) on the Downe lottery on the lottery page....

Have you joined the Downe Lottery yet ? .........be in it to win it

The main purpose is to raise money for 'worthy' causes in the village, with the added opportunity to win prizes. The prize money is 50% of the monthly monies raised - so clearly, the more lottery shares sold, the more money in the prize pot, and the more money raised for Downe.